Final answer:
The rationale for prescribing a beta-blocker in this situation is that a rapid heart rate requires more effort by the heart, and beta-blockers help to reduce the heart rate and workload on the heart.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct rationale for prescribing a beta-blocker in this situation is a. "A rapid heart rate requires more effort by the heart." Beta-blockers work by blocking the beta-1 receptors, which helps to slow down the heart rate and reduce the workload on the heart. By reducing the heart rate, beta-blockers can be beneficial in certain situations, such as controlling hypertension or treating a rapid heart rate.